Black Kettle

Black Kettle

Black Kettle was a wild horse that used to roam freely in Sherman County with a number of other wild horses before it was settled. Black Kettle became famous because it seemed no man could catch him. It was told that his mane and tail were so long that when resting they reached the ground. Many tried to catch Black Kettle but only one succeeded.

PM265FARM, circa 1909-1916

Black Kettle got his name from the Indian Chief who chased him – Chief Black Kettle – and was obsessed with capturing him. Black Kettle (the horse) became legendary among those who traveled Custer Road and in December 1879 Frank M. Lockard decided to catch him. After several failed pursuits, Lockard finally caught up to him and captured Black Kettle because he was exhausted and could go no further after a chase.

Unfortunately when he was captured a blanket was put on him to break him and the blanket contained Texas Itch which made him lose most of his coat and his mane and tail. While his coat restored, his mane and tail grew in short and stubby and never to its former glory. After being broken he was used as milk wagon horse and then as a breaking plow horse. In 1896 Black Kettle died at the age of thirty.